Replies

“Yes, and it was written in 1861, a time when everyone believed that stomping would take place between armies on a battlefield. Sherman would not be marching on Savannah for almost 3 years. So, there goes your idea of Howe promoting civilian deaths, which would be ludicrous even if the song had been written over Christmas in Savannah by Sherman himself.”

The radical abolitionists wanted that very thing. Her husband, after all, was in with Brown.

“Written during a war, and used as a marching song by warriors.”

Certainly no Christian hymn. Considering it was directed at fellow Americans, not a very patriotic hymn these days either.

“And though this will likely enrage you, calling it unchristian to desire the defeat of a slave state is your opinion, not doctrine.”

Defeat or mass slaughter? What do you think those rows of bayonets lines means?

“So, God, in Howe’s hymn, is saying that He will give mercy to those who show mercy to those who scorn Hi”

“Oh, sorry, you messed up there.”

Interesting twist on the wording, but not true. It clearly indicates service in the war is a path to salvation. If you deal with the contempters with vigor, grace will be so applied.

“So, just in case you’re keeping score, you’re now trying to say that a song written before total war, that tells those singing it to show mercy, is a set of instructions to kill Southern civilians.”

It’s a song written by friends of John Brown about punishing the South. “Stomping out the vintage” and all that.

“Having trouble with linear thought again, eh?”

Having trouble keeping your hatred for half the country out of your argument? You must be a lawyer.

“Having trouble with linear thought again, eh? What I said was that Lincoln’s address...well, addressed, the grapes of wrath. I never said it mentioned Howe’s song, and the whole “genocide” idea is yours alone. Here’s the pertinent section:”

Of course Lincoln didn’t support mass murder of Southernors. He wasn’t a radical abolitionist. His view of this war has nothing to do with their view.

As a professional editor, I find I can often help people say the same things with fewer words. Here's a rewrite of your post, free of charge:

"I am going to keep making the same arguments even if they are disproved our otherwise removed from contention. I'll also keep saying that you are making points that you've never advanced. For example, even after you post text where Lincoln talks about the judgment of God being visited on the nation for the sin of slavery, I will continue to pretend that you were saying that Abe Lincoln supported radical abolitionists, thereby 'disproving' a point you never made. Plus, I'll be sure to play the usual, stupid, bigoted, anti-intellectual 'you disagree with me therefore you hate the South' card."

There...that was wordier than it would have been after a further rewrite, and it was 100 words. Your original version was 350 words, so I cut it by about 72%.

If you think I hate the South you're blind and deaf. We're done here.